Beyond Brushes and Budgets: Rethinking Art Education with NEP 2020

Art education has always been more than just colours on paper. It is a vital space where creativity, self-expression, cultural identity, and emotional intelligence converge to provide holistic development to the students.

Recognising this transformative potential, both the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 place art education at the heart of school learning, not just as a standalone subject but as an integrated pedagogical approach across all disciplines.

“Art-integration is a cross-curricular pedagogical approach that utilises various aspects and forms of art and culture as the basis for learning concepts across subjects… for creating joyful classrooms and imbibing the Indian ethos.” — NEP 2020

However, turning this vision into reality isn’t always easy. Schools often face practical constraints, such as a lack of trained art teachers, limited space or resources, and uncertainty about how to incorporate art into everyday teaching.

So, how can schools make art education more accessible, relevant, and enriching, even with limited means? Let’s explore some imaginative and inclusive approaches proposed in the latest NCF SE 2023 that aim to bridge these long-standing gaps:

Tapping into Local Traditions as a Learning Resource

India’s cultural landscape is rich with diverse and vibrant art forms, many of which exist within a few kilometres of any school. Rather than looking externally for expensive resources, schools can draw from their immediate surroundings to integrate art into everyday learning.

• Invite local potters, weavers, or folk artists for live demos
• Invite muralists and storytellers to conduct interactive workshops
• Engage crafts persons and illustrators to share traditional techniques and folk knowledge

These community artists bring authenticity, cultural pride, and hands-on learning that textbooks alone can’t offer. With minimal training, they can even serve as part-time facilitators, blending heritage with pedagogy in powerful ways.

Empowering Every Teacher as a Creative Facilitator

You don’t always need a specialised art teacher to bring creativity into the classroom. Subject teachers, with a little support and training in art pedagogy, can integrate artistic methods into their everyday lessons.

Picture this:

• A math teacher using Warli art to explain patterns and symmetry
• A science class building clay models of the solar system
• A language lesson where students dramatise a story through puppetry

Teachers can harness natural, local, or recycled materials to keep things simple, sustainable, and cost-effective, making art a part of everyday learning and not an occasional activity.

Deepening Artistic Engagement Across School Stages

As learners grow, so should their experience with the arts.

• Foundational and Preparatory Stages: Playful exploration through drawing, clay, puppetry, and music builds confidence and expression.
• Middle Stage: Students should begin to develop their own creative styles. Teachers must nurture this through:
  • Guided experimentation
  • Thoughtful feedback
  • Meaningful integration of art into projects and subjects
• Secondary Stage: NEP and NCF recommend dedicated art educators in both visual and performing arts. Until that’s possible, collaborations with NGOs, local artists, and cultural centres can serve as a vibrant alternative.

Transforming Libraries into Art Corners

Often overlooked, the school library can be a powerful enabler of art learning. By curating a rich collection of resources, schools can spark curiosity and support both student exploration and teacher lesson planning.

• Illustrated children’s literature
• Art and artist biographies
• Folk tales and dramatic scripts
• Catalogues from exhibitions or cultural festivals
• Songbooks and musical notation
• Periodicals on contemporary art trends

With access to such materials, students begin to see themselves not just as learners but as creators and contributors to culture.

Conclusion: Turning Challenges into Creative Opportunities

Art education doesn’t need perfect conditions, it needs imagination, intention, and inclusion. The road may be uneven, but it is rich with opportunity. By tapping into local traditions, empowering teachers, and rethinking learning spaces, schools can bring meaningful and joyful art experiences to every child, regardless of resources.

Let’s move beyond the limitations of availability and infrastructure and embrace the power of art to connect, inspire, and transform learning for all.